Moravian Academy Honors Alumni

May 22, 1988|The Morning Call

Three Bethlehem residents were honored yesterday at Moravian Academy's annual alumni reunion for their contributions to the school.

Katherine Merle-Smith was presented with the Honorary Alumna Award by Patricia Chase, president of the Alumni Association, and David and Miriam Devey received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Carol Normington, vice president of the association.

The awards were given before 700 guests, alumni, parents and friends in Walter Hall at the Merle-Smith Campus where Douglas W. Caldwell, senior pastor at Moravian Church, presided.

Merle-Smith came to Moravian Seminary for Girls in 1965 with her husband, Van S. Merle-Smith, who served as chaplain and later became academic dean and acting headmaster at the Academy. The Merle-Smiths endowed the Academy's first faculty chair of art, named for Mrs. Merle-Smith's parents.

A graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art, Merle-Smith taught art and riding at the Foxcroft School. She has served on boards at the Allentown Art Museum, Wiley House, Historic Bethlehem Inc. and Alternative House. She has also been a board member and vice president of the National Council of Women in the United States.

The Deveys, named honorary alumni in 1978, are leaving the Academy after 17 years of service. Devey, who was named director of the Lower and Middle schools in 1971, became headmaster of the Academy in 1973.

The oldest alumnae of the Academy, Martha Luckenbach and Dorothy Laub, both of Bethlehem, celebrated their 70th alumni reunion. Both women graduated from Moravian Preparatory School in 1918.

Bishop Edwin Sawyer of Bethlehem, who was the first president of the Academy and who hired Devey in 1971, was the opening speaker. Van S. Merle- Smith Jr. of Bethlehem, chairman of the Academy's Board from 1977-81, presented a painting of Benigna House to the couple.

Robert Margolis of Allentown, chairman of the Board from 1981-85, read a proclamation naming the Middle School building at 11 W. Market St. the "David J. and Miriam R. Devey Building." The Deveys then unveiled the plaques that will be placed on the building.

The Deveys also received a one-week vacation to Hawaii, a monetary gift and a memory book, and an endowment has been created in their name.

The couple will be relocating to Aiken, S.C., where Devey will become a headmaster at a boys school.